Care Planning

In all circumstances where a decision is made for a child to come into our care, the child must have a Care Plan completed by the social worker and signed by the relevant team manager, the contents of which include:

• The child's Placement Plan (setting out why the home was chosen and how the home will contribute to meeting the child's needs);
• The child's Permanence Plan (setting out the long term plans for the child's upbringing including timescales);
• The Pathway Plan (where appropriate, for young people leaving care);
• The child's Health Plan;
• The child's Personal Education Plan;
• The contingency plan;
• The date of the child's first Child in Care Review (within 20 working days);
• The name of the Independent Reviewing Officer;
• The child’s views.

Note: The Care Plan must identify if there is reason to believe that the child is a victim of trafficking, or is an unaccompanied asylum seeking young person and has applied for, or intends to apply for, asylum.

2.1.1 The Care Plan Where the Matter is Before the Court

In addition to the above, a Care Plan should reflect that the court is required under s.8 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amends section 31(3B) Children Act 1989 to consider the 'permanence provisions' of the Care Plan for the child:

1. The provisions setting out the long-term plan for the upbringing of the child - to live with a parent/family member/family friend; adoption; or other long-term care; and
2. The plan's provisions in relation to any of the following:
   1. The impact on the child concerned of any harm that they suffered or are likely to suffer;
   2. The current and future needs of the child (including needs arising out of that impact);
   3. The way in which the long-term plan for the upbringing of the child would meet those current and future needs.

Where there is no recent Assessment in relation to the child, the Care Plan must highlight the need for an Assessment to be completed.

The child's social worker is responsible for drawing up and updating the Care Plan in consultation with:

1. The child;
2. The child's parents and those with Parental Responsibility;
3. Anyone who is not a parent but has been caring for or looking after the child;
4. Other members of the child's family network who are significant to the child;
5. The child's school or the education service;
6. The relevant health trust;
7. The Youth Offending Service, if the child is known to them;
8. Any other agency involved with the child's care.

The social worker should ensure that the child, those with Parental Responsibility and the carer understand the Care Plan and their role in contributing to its implementation.

One of the key functions of the Care Plan is to ensure that each child has a Permanence Plan by the time of the second Child in Care Review.  The Care Plan is subject to scrutiny at each Child in Care Review - see Looked After Reviews Procedure.

The Care Plan should include the arrangements made to meet the child's needs in relation to their:

• Emotional and behavioural development;
• The child's identity in relation to religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background;
• Family and social relationships; arrangements for family time with sibling(s) who are in the care of the authority or another local authority; details of any Section 8 Order, in relation to a child in our care; details of any order in relation to family time with a child in care; arrangements for family time with parents/anyone with Parental Responsibility/ any other Connected Person; arrangements for the appointment of an Independent Visitor for a child in our care;
• Social presentation;
• Self-care skills.

The child must have a Placement Plan at the time of coming into our care (this includes the parent's consent to coming into our care (if applicable) and the child's medical treatment). It should be completed as far as possible before the child comes into our care or, if not reasonably practicable, within 5 working days of coming into our care.

The information to be included in the Placement Plan will include:

1. How on a day-to-day basis the child will be cared for and the child's welfare will be safeguarded and promoted by the appropriate person;
2. Any arrangements for family time between the child and parents/anyone with Parental Responsibility/any other connected person, including, if appropriate, reasons why family time is not reasonably practicable or not consistent with the child's welfare; details of any Contact Order (under Section 8 or 34 of the Children Act 1989); the arrangements for notifying any changes in contact arrangements;
3. Arrangements for the child's health (physical, emotional and mental) and dental care, including the name and address of registered medical and dental practitioners; arrangements for giving/withholding consent to medical/dental examination/treatment;
4. Arrangements for the child's education and training, including the name and address of the child's school/other educational provision and designated teacher; the Local Authority maintaining any Education, Health and Care Plan;
5. The arrangements for and frequency of visits by the child's social worker; and for advice, support and assistance between visits;
6. If an Independent Visitor is appointed, the arrangements for them to visit the child;
7. The circumstances in which the placement may be terminated;
8. The name and contact details of the Independent Reviewing Officer, the Independent Visitor if one is appointed, the social worker who will be visiting the child, and the Personal Adviser for an Eligible Young Person.

The Placement Plan will be recorded on the Placement Information Record on the child's electronic database.

Copies of the Placement Information Record must be provided to the child (if of sufficient age and understanding), the parents and must be handed to the residential staff/carers before the child is placed. Where a child goes to reside with in-house foster carers, one copy should also be sent to the Fostering Team - to be kept in the confidential section of the foster carer's file and returned once the child is no longer residing there.

At the time of the child residing in our care, the residential staff/carers should also be given any additional information about details of the child's day-to-day needs which are not covered by the Placement Information Record but are important to ensure that the staff/carers are in the best possible position to help the child settle in the new home, for example, any particular fears at night-time or the child's favourite toys.

Whenever a child comes into our care or the child moves homes, the child's Chronology should be updated.

The child's social worker must notify the Independent Review Unit of the child coming into our care within two working days, so that the necessary arrangements for the allocation of an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) (within 5 working days of the child coming into our care wherever possible) and the child's first Child in Care  Review can be made. See the Looked After Reviews Procedure for the procedures relating to reviews, including the responsibility for invitations to reviews.

Before or at the time of the child coming into our care, the social worker should request the parent to transfer the child's personal child health record. Where this is lost or not available, the social worker should ask for a replacement to be issued and ask the Designated Nurse for Children in our Care  to assist with providing any information to complete the record.

The social worker should also contact the Designated Nurse for Children in our Care to arrange a Health Care Assessment before the child comes into our care or, if not reasonably practicable before the first Child in Care Review(i.e. within 20 working days) so that the completion of a Health Care Plan is in time for the child's first Child in Care  Review. See Health Care Assessments and Plans Procedure.

In addition, the social worker should inform the carer of any medication the child is taking, and ensure that a supply of medication is provided in a clearly labelled bottle with the child's name, required dosage and the time the medication is to be given.

The social worker should also liaise with the Designated Teacher so that a Personal Education Plan (PEP) can be completed as part of the Care Plan before the child comes in our care (or within 10 working days in the case of an emergency) and be available in time for the first Child in Care Review. See Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Procedure.

The child's social worker must provide the child and parents with written information about the home in which the child lives.

The child and parents must also be provided with information about the complaints process and the availability of advocates.

Any changes in a child's legal status as a result of court proceedings must be recorded on the child's electronic record.